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When the economy is growing, there's a lot that can be done to deal with the deficit.

The only way to eliminate the deficit in the long run is through growth.

Traditionally, the way deficits have been cut is you hold expenditures more or less constant in real dollars and then let growth come in to fill it up.

I think growing an economy is a good way to help with a deficit, but ultimately, it's about fiscal discipline and responsible spending - and smart decisions.

While there are no easy solutions to this problem, the Deficit Reduction Act gets us started in the right direction by beginning with the most obvious, commonsense reforms to save taxpayer dollars.

Well, a deficit reflects an imbalance between spending and revenue, and so narrowing it requires acting on one, the other or both.

The biggest problem with the deficit is programs that are unconstitutional and wasteful.

Everybody has to agree that the best thing we can do to start reducing the deficit in this country is to put people back to work.

The right way to deal with a budget problem that was years in the making is by formulating a credible plan to reduce the deficit over time and as the economy is able to withstand the necessary fiscal belt-tightening. That is what President Obama is doing.

I have spoken about deficits, and I think deficits are important because they address broad economic and financial stability. We need to talk about that.